Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 17, 2008 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 17 90 90 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 3 15 15 Northern Harrier 1 2 2 Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 9 9 Cooper's Hawk 4 12 13 Northern Goshawk 0 1 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 11 26 26 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 84 270 271 Rough-legged Hawk 4 8 8 Golden Eagle 1 2 2 American Kestrel 0 5 5 Merlin 0 0 0 Peregrine Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Accipiter 1 2 2 Unknown Buteo 1 2 2 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 4 4 4 Total: 134 449 451 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:45:00 Observation end time: 16:30:00 Total observation time: 8.75 hours Official Counter: Ian Richards, John Stevens Observers: Barry Cherriere, Bouwe Bergsma, Brandon Holden, Clive Hodder, Colin Horstead, Ian Richards, Mike Street Visitors: In addition to the observers named, others assisting with the count included: Brian Hawthorne, Eric Single, Dave Sked, Dave Langford, Eric Holden, Sandy Darling, John N and Mike (from Dofasco), Kevin McLaughlin. Weather: Clear and cool with a moderate breeze from the northeast, becoming progressively cloudy in the afternoon with very pronounced sun dogs and a large ring around the sun. Raptor Observations: Flight paths were all over the sky from Ridge Road to beyond the escarpment edge, often simultaneously. Once past the tower, the birds were very well backlit from the snow. Highlight was an adult Golden Eagle directly overhead that circled lazily for all to observe about 50-60 metres high. Non-raptor Observations: An early morning Eastern Phoebe and a few other spring arrivals such as robins, grackles, Red-winged Blackbirds and Horned Larks ======================================================================== Report submitted by Mike Street (mikestreet1@gmail.com) Beamer Conservation Area, Grimsby, ON information may be found at: http://www.hwcn.org/link/niaghawk/ Site Description: Beamer Conservation Area is located on top of the Niagara Escarpment above the town of Grimsby, Ontario. The site is 1km south of the south shore of Lake Ontario, 20km east of Hamilton, 40km west of Niagara Falls. Directions to site: To get to Beamer CA, take the QEW to Exit 72, follow Christie St./Mountain St. to the top of the escarpment, turn right on Ridge Road West, and go 1.6km to Quarry Rd. Turn right on Quarry Rd. and drive 100m to the conservation area. Parking is normally available inside the park. If parking at the entrance or on the roads, do NOT leave valuables in your car.